48 Participants Needed

Exercise for ADHD in College Students

CM
Overseen ByCynthia M Hartung, Ph.D.
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Wyoming
Stay on Your Current MedsYou can continue your current medications while participating
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)
Approved in 1 JurisdictionThis treatment is already approved in other countries

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The overall objective of this study is to examine physical exercise as an intervention for ADHD. The rationale for the proposed study is that physical exercise could serve as an effective treatment for college students with ADHD that has low costs, low risks, and ancillary health benefits and may address the limitations of existing treatments. The central hypothesis is that college students with ADHD will exhibit greater degrees of improvement in executive functioning (i.e., sustained attention, working memory) immediately following sprint interval training (SIT), relative to non-ADHD peers. This hypothesis was formulated based on preliminary studies demonstrating reduced ADHD symptoms and improved executive functioning following physical exercise. Multiple 2 (ADHD vs. control) x 2 (male vs. female) x 2 (exercise vs. none) repeated measures ANOVAs will be conducted to compare students with ADHD (n = 24) to controls (n = 24). The expected outcomes are to confirm this hypothesis and demonstrate the need for further study of physical exercise. If confirmed, the results will provide pilot data for a larger NIH grant proposal aimed at further examining the acute effects of physical exercise (i.e., improved cognitive functioning immediately following exercise) and also the chronic effects of physical exercise (i.e., improved functioning after engaging in regular exercise for an extended period). This outcome is expected to have an important positive impact because physical exercise may serve as an effective treatment for college students with ADHD that is less risky than stimulants, less time-consuming than therapy, and provides ancillary health benefits (i.e., increasing physical fitness, decreasing obesity).

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial excludes participants using medications that negatively affect cognitive performance, like sedatives or antipsychotics. If you're on such medications, you may need to stop taking them to participate.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Sprint Interval Training, High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Sprint Interval Exercise for ADHD in college students?

Research shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can lead to immediate improvements in attention, mood, and cognitive function in college students with ADHD. This type of exercise may help manage ADHD symptoms and improve overall mental health.12345

Is high-intensity interval training (HIIT) safe for college students with ADHD?

Current research suggests that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is generally safe for college students with ADHD, as it poses a relatively low risk of harmful effects in healthy individuals.25678

How is Sprint Interval Training different from other treatments for ADHD in college students?

Sprint Interval Training (also known as High-Intensity Interval Training or HIIT) is unique because it provides immediate improvements in attention, mood, and executive functioning for college students with ADHD, unlike traditional treatments that may take longer to show effects. It is a physical exercise that involves short bursts of intense activity, which can enhance brain function and reduce ADHD symptoms quickly.59101112

Research Team

CM

Cynthia M Hartung, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

University of Wyoming

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for college students aged 18-29 at the University of Wyoming or Laramie County Community College who have ADHD. It's not for those with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, pregnant women, people who can't walk without help, those told by a doctor to avoid exercise, anyone with conditions like heart disease that make exercise risky, or if they're on meds that affect thinking.

Inclusion Criteria

Age between 18 and 29 years.
University of Wyoming (UW) or Laramie County Community College (LCCC) student.

Exclusion Criteria

You primarily have hyperactive and impulsive symptoms of ADHD, which is uncommon in adults.
Pregnancy or trying to become pregnant.
Non-ambulatory or relying on walking aids for ambulation.
See 4 more

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks
1 visit (in-person)

Experimental Appointments

Participants attend two in-lab experimental appointments for sprint interval training (SIT) and Non-SIT, completing cognitive tasks and questionnaires.

2 weeks
2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in cognitive performance and mood through questionnaires completed the day after each experimental appointment.

2 weeks
Remote follow-up via text and email

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Sprint Interval Training
Trial OverviewThe study tests how sprint interval training (SIT) affects attention and memory in students with ADHD compared to non-ADHD peers. The idea is that SIT might improve cognitive functions right after exercising. Participants will be divided into groups based on having ADHD or not, gender, and whether they exercised or didn't.
Participant Groups
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Sprint Interval TrainingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will be scheduled for two in-lab experimental appointments: sprint interval training (SIT) and Non-SIT. During the SIT appointment, the researcher will lead the participant through a set of stretches and three minutes of low-intensity cycling on a Schwinn AD2 Airdyne leg-cycling and arm-cranking ergometer to warm up and increase blood flow to active muscles. Participants will then complete 16 minutes of SIT, consisting of eight bouts of 20 seconds of cycling followed by 100 seconds of rest. Participants will complete computer-based tests of sustained attention and working memory during both the SIT (15 minutes following the exercise) and Non-SIT appointments.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wyoming

Lead Sponsor

Trials
20
Recruited
1,600+

Findings from Research

A single 20-minute session of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improved attention and processing accuracy in preadolescent children with ADHD, as well as in healthy control children, compared to seated reading.
Following exercise, children with ADHD showed enhanced regulatory processes and better performance in reading and arithmetic, suggesting that exercise can positively impact neurocognitive function and inhibitory control in this population.
Exercise improves behavioral, neurocognitive, and scholastic performance in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Pontifex, MB., Saliba, BJ., Raine, LB., et al.[2022]
A study involving 28 boys with ADHD showed that multimodal therapy including supervised high-intensity interval training (HIIT) significantly improved motor skills and aspects of quality of life compared to standard therapy.
HIIT not only enhanced physical fitness by increasing peak power and reducing oxygen uptake but also positively impacted self-esteem and attention, demonstrating its effectiveness as a therapeutic intervention for boys with ADHD.
Multimodal Therapy Involving High-Intensity Interval Training Improves the Physical Fitness, Motor Skills, Social Behavior, and Quality of Life of Boys With ADHD: A Randomized Controlled Study.Meßler, CF., Holmberg, HC., Sperlich, B.[2019]
In a study involving 12 children (6 with ADHD and 6 without), specially designed 40-minute exercise sessions significantly reduced ADHD symptoms in children with ADHD, showing a moderate to large effect size over 11 weeks.
All children found the exercise sessions enjoyable, indicating that engaging and inclusive physical activities can help manage ADHD symptoms while being fun for all participants.
An Exercise Program Designed for Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder for Use in School Physical Education: Feasibility and Utility.Taylor, A., Novo, D., Foreman, D.[2023]

References

Exercise improves behavioral, neurocognitive, and scholastic performance in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. [2022]
Multimodal Therapy Involving High-Intensity Interval Training Improves the Physical Fitness, Motor Skills, Social Behavior, and Quality of Life of Boys With ADHD: A Randomized Controlled Study. [2019]
An Exercise Program Designed for Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder for Use in School Physical Education: Feasibility and Utility. [2023]
Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Performance in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: Potential Mechanisms and Evidence-based Recommendations. [2020]
Acute Effects of Physical Exercise on Cognitive and Psychological Functioning in College Students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. [2023]
Using Physical Activity to Manage ADHD Symptoms:The State of the Evidence. [2018]
Sweat it out? The effects of physical exercise on cognition and behavior in children and adults with ADHD: a systematic literature review. [2023]
Enhanced Physical Activity Improves Selected Outcomes in Children With ADHD: Systematic Review. [2022]
Effectiveness of Physical Activity Intervention on ADHD Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2023]
10.Korea (South)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and health-related physical fitness in university students. [2020]
Attention Improves During Physical Exercise in Individuals With ADHD. [2020]
12.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Healthy body, healthy mind?: the effectiveness of physical activity to treat ADHD in children. [2021]